Electrical contact receptacle



Nov. 3, 1964 J- R. FILSON 3,155,450

ELECTRICAL cormcw RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 30, 1961 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofi ice 3,155,459 Patented Nov. 3, 1964 55,459 ELECTRICAL CONTACT RECEPTAQLE John R. Filson, ledford, Ni, assignor to Positive Connector (10., Mentor-d, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 36, 1961, Ser. No. 143,421 2 Claims. (Cl. sea-25a This invention relates generally to electrical contact receptacles and more particularly to the type of contact receptacle often referred to as a terminal clip.

In the past, electrical contact receptacles of the terminal clip type have been commonly fabricated from a sheet metal strap which has had its end portions semicylindrically formed. The strap is folded along its transverse midline to bring the end portions into confronting relationship forming a tapering, tubular passageway, the hinge defined at the fold permitting the end portions to receive a conductive pin or prong in a resilient manner. While this type of terminal clip has enjoycd wide usage, it affords only line or at best, a restricted, ring-like area of cont-act with the prong which it receives in wedged engagement. Burning and even arcing has resulted from this rather minimal area of Contact, reducing both the efliciency of the unit and its ultimate life.

Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical contact receptacle. 1

A more specific object ofthe invention is to provid a contact receptacle oi the terminal clip type which is characterized by a large area of contact with the conductive pin that it receives.

Another object of the invention is to provide a terminal clip incorporating novel means for achieving radial resiliency of the pin-receiving sleeve.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical contact receptacle of an improved one-piece construction. Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure and arrangements whereby, the above objects are attained.

A terminal clip in accord with the invention includes a stem portion having means for attaching an electrical conductor thereto; and a receptacle portion including a first channel element merging into the stem portion, and inverted channel element confronting the first channel element to cooperate therewith in forming a tubular, conductive-pin-receiving passageway, and appendages laterally connecting the channel elements and peripherally spacing the channel elements whereby to define longitudinally extending slots in the receptacle portion, each of the appendages being bent upon itself to form a spring member for incurring radial resiliency of the channel elements relative to each other whereby releasably to receive a conductive. pin of greater transverse dimension than the passageway.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawing forming a part thereof wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of terminal clips constructed in accordance with the invention and shown situated in side-by-side relationship, the common strip by which a series of the clips can be joined in chain-like fashion being shown in broken outline;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the one-piece blank from which a terminal clip may be formed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along the section 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the section 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation, similar to the showing of FIG. 3 but illustrating the terminal clip receiving a conductive pin;

FIG. 6 is a View taken along the section 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the section 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of a socket incorporating terminal clips constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of the terminal clip of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to H68. 1 and 3, a terminal clip indicated generally by the numeral to will be seen to comprise a stem portion 12 and a receptacle portion 14 which merge together to form a clip of one-piece construction. The clip 10 is advantageously fabricated from a suitable, electrically conductive sheet material such as copper plated steel, this material additionally providing the desired degree of resiliency for the purposes of the invention.

As is particularly well shown in FIG. 3, the stem portion 12 includes a flattened rectangular, central blade 16; and turning to FlG. 1, the blade 16 will be seen provided with laterally extending Wings 13 at one end. For facility in fabrication, handling and assembly of the terminal clips 10, the Wings 18 are arranged to comprise a section of a strip 20 which joins the clip ill with a similar clip 10a and with other similar clips, not shown, the several clips being arranged in parallel, laterally spaced-apart relationship in a chain-like fashion.

The stem portion 12 also includes a terminus 22 spaced-apart from the wings 18; and intermediate the wings 18 and the terminus 22, there extend opposed elements 24 which are adapted to be formed over at least a portion of the central blade 16 for gripping an end section 26 of a somewhat flexible, electrical condoctor 28, as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. As is particularly well shown in FIG. 7, the elements 24 are advantageously crimped into a rectangular, box-like configuration with the blade 16 in order to grip the several strands of the conductor 26 in a tight and generally permanent manner. Thus, the conductor 28 is firmly attached to the terminal clip 16.

Returning to FIG. 3, the terminus 22 will be seen to tions are situated in confronting relationship to define a tapering mouth for purposes of leading a conductive pin into the cylindrical passageway 34. As will be apparent, the central blade 16 and the channel element 30 define the main axis of the terminal clip it).

In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the channel elements 30 and 32 are connected at adjacent lateral edges by ears or appendages such as the ears or appendages 40, 42, 44 and 46 which are well shown in FIG. 1. These appendages incur radial resiliency of the channel elements 30 and 32 relative to each other. Advantageously, the appendages 40, 42, 44 and 46 extend coplanarly with the wings 18 for definig pos tioning members as will be brought out hereinafter. The channel element 3?. is provided with a longitudinal discontinuity 43; and each of the ears 4%, 42, 44 and 4-6 is bent upon itself to form a spring member. When a conductive pin, such as conductive pin 5%, is introduced into the passageway as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ears and the discontinuity 48 expand to accommodate the greater transverse dimension of the pin. This will be clearly seen by a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 6.

In order to amplify the radial resiliency of the channel elements and relative to eacn other, the channel elements are peripherally spaced-apart by diametric, longitudinally extending slots 52, the slots 52 traversing the distance between the longitudinally spaced-apart cars which are advantageously disposed at the opposite ends of the channel elements 3t and 32 in accordance with the showing of FIG. 1. In other words, slots 52 relieve the receptacle portion 14- for free action of the appendages 4b, 42, 4d and 46 as s ring members.

As will be recognized, the substantially cylindrical shape of the passageway which is defined between the channel elements 30 and 32 cooperates with the radial resiliency achieved between the channel element to provide a grip or area of contact with the received pin 5t) along a substantial portion of the length thereof. This substantial area of contact insures good electrical connection between the pin and the cli 18 whereby to avoid electrical diliiculties and whereb to rolon the i use-life of the clip.

Terminal clip 10 is advantageously fabricated from a one-piece blank shown in FIG. 2. There, the stern portion 12 of the clip and the component elements thereof will be seen identified by the numerals used hereinbefore. In addition, the receptacle portion 14 will be seen to comprise, a column 54 and parallel legs 56 and 58, the legs 6 and 58 being connected to the column 54 by tranverse elements 6t), 62, 64 and 66. During fabrication, the column 54 is formed in semi-cylindrical shape to define the channel element 31). The legs 56 and 58 are similarly curved to define the channel element 32, each of the transverse elements 6%, 62, 64 and 66 being bent over upon itself to establish the ears lb, 42, 44 and 46 respectively. It is to be pointed out that cut-out regions 68 and 70 are fashioned in the blank so that, upon folding of the transverse elements upon themselves, slots 52 will be created.

Having thus described the construction and fabrication of one embodiment of the invention, it is important now to describe utilization of the illustrative embodiment; and turning to a consideration of FIG. 8, a socket indicated generally by the numeral 72 includes mating shells of electrically insulative material, such as for example a phenolic resinous plastic material. One of the mating shells is illustrated at 74 and the other, similar shell is removed in order to reveal details of internal construction. The shell 74 is provided with parallel, bores 76; and these bores terminate in a chamber 78 in compliance with conventional socket arrangements. Each of the bores 76 has a number of pairs of spaced-apart niches 86 opening laterally from it; and these pairs of niches are adapted to receive the wings l8 and the appendages db, &2, 44 and 46 of the terminal clip ill, the wings and appendages cooperating with the niches in positioning and anchori g the terminal clip Within the socket. It is also to be noted that the channel elements of the terminal clip reside in the bores 76 whereas the wings and appendages bisect the socket axis. The cooperating shell of the socket 72 is formed similarly to the shell 74; and the shell halves are assembled in conventional manner with a strain relief joined at the confluence of conductors 28 and 28a whereas the base of a coiled spring handle, not shown, is assembled in a chamber 82 formed in the top ends of the socket shells.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been thus far shown and described, it should be of course understood that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made. For example and turning to FIG. 9, a modified terminal clip will be seen indicated generally by the numeral 16b. The terminal clip itlb is similar in many respects to the terminal clip 10 described hereinabove; accordingly, like numerals have been used to designate like parts in the two embodiments, the suffix letter b being employed to distinguish those parts associated with the terminal clip 10b.

The terminal clip 10b is particularly arranged to provide a predetermined resistance to detachment from minimum diameter pins after the terminal clip has been used with maximum diameter pins. Specifically, the receptacle portion 14b is provided with a severed section l9 adjacent the flaring portion 36b. Thus, the channel element 30b defines a free section or tongue 92; and advantageously, the tongue 92 is fashioned with a tip portion 94 which is curved to present a convex surface to the entering end of a conductive pin. Furthermore, the tongue 92 is bent slightly into the conductive-pin-receiving sleeve or passageway 34b to provide a desired interference. When the terminal clip 10b is fashioned from a material having a suitable spring constant, such as for example half hardened 0020 steel, the tongue 92 provides spring action for insuring a high degree of contact with minimum diameter pins and positive return of the tongue to its original position after the removal of a maximum diameter conductive pin.

The specific examples herein shown and described should be considered as illustrative only. Various changes in structure may occur to those skilled in the art; and such changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A terminal clip comprising a stem portion having means for attaching an electrical conductor thereto, and an elongate receptacle portion joined to said stem portion and adapted to receive a conductive pin; said receptacle portion including an elongate bottom channel portion and an elongate inverted top channel portion confronting the bottom channel portion to form a tubular passageway for receiving the conductive pin, a pair of laterally extending and substantially diametrically opposed ears adjacent the entering end of the receptacle portion and a pair of laterally extending and substantially diametrically opposed ears at the remote end of said receptacle portion adjacent said stem portion, each of said ears being bent upon itself to close proximity with the upper and lower inner ends thereof connected, respectively, to the top and bottom channel portions and with the joined outer ends thereof providing laterally outwardly disposed longitudinal hinge axes permitting resilient separation of the inner ends of the ears and the connected channel portions, the longitudinal length of said ears being relatively short as compared to the length of the receptacle portion with the intermediate substantial length of the receptacle portion between the pairs of ears being provided with substantially diametrically opposed longitudinal slots traversing the distance between the pairs of ears and one of said channel portions being longitudinally traversed by a discontinuity between said pairs of ears to relieve the receptacle portion for free spring action of the ears and channel portions 5 about said hinge axes While retaining longitudinally continuous surface portions of the channel portions for substantially uniform resilient contact with an inserted conductive pin.

2. A terminal clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 5 stern portion includes laterally extending wings at the end thereof remote from the entering end of the receptacle portion for cooperation with the pairs of ears in defining locating projections for positioning the clip in a socket member. 10

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Meuer Feb. 21, 1933 6 Shore Apr. 7, 1936 Hanser et a1 Jan. 18, 1938 De Reamer Aug. 8, 1939 Henning May 14, 1940 Flora Aug. 9, 1955 Poupitch Nov. 22, 1955 Martines Apr. 24, 1956 Matthysse et a1 Ian. 12, 1960 Wootton Jan. 17, 1961 Lazar et a1. Apr. 3, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 8, 1960 Great Britain June 14, 1938 

1. A TERMINAL CLIP COMPRISING A STEM PORTION HAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHING AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR THERETO, AND AN ELONGATE RECEPTACLE PORTION JOINED TO SAID STEM PORTION AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A CONDUCTIVE PIN; SAID RECEPTACLE PORTION INCLUDING AN ELONGATE BOTTOM CHANNEL PORTION AND AN ELONGATE INVERTED TOP CHANNEL PORTION CONFRONTING THE BOTTOM CHANNEL PORTION TO FORM A TUBULAR PASSAGEWAY FOR RECEIVING THE CONDUCTIVE PIN, A PAIR OF LATERALLY EXTENDING AND SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED EARS ADJACENT THE ENTERING END OF THE RECEPTACLE PORTION AND A PAIR OF LATERALLY EXTENDING AND SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED EARS AT THE REMOTE END OF SAID RECEPTACLE PORTION ADJACENT SAID STEM PORTION, EACH OF SAID EARS BEING BENT UPON ITSELF TO CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER INNER ENDS THEREOF CONNECTED, RESPECTIVELY, TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM CHANNEL PORTIONS AND WITH THE JOINED OUTER ENDS THEREOF PROVIDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY DISPOSED LONGITUDINAL HINGE AXES PERMITTING RESILIENT SEPARATION OF THE INNER ENDS OF THE EARS AND THE CONNECTED CHANNEL PORTIONS, THE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH OF SAID EARS BEING RELATIVELY SHORT AS COMPARED TO THE LENGTH OF THE RECEPTACLE PORTION WITH THE INTERMEDIATE SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH OF THE RECEPTACLE PORTION BETWEEN THE PAIRS OF EARS BEING PROVIDED WITH SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED LONGITUDINAL SLOTS TRAVERSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PAIRS OF EARS AND ONE OF SAID CHANNEL PORTIONS BEING LONGITUDINALLY TRAVERSED BY A DISCONTINUITY BETWEEN SAID PAIRS OF EARS TO RELIEVE THE RECEPTACLE PORTION FOR FREE SPRING ACTION OF THE EARS AND CHANNEL PORTIONS ABOUT SAID HINGE AXES WHILE RETAINING LONGITUDINALLY CONTINUOUS SURFACE PORTIONS OF THE CHANNEL PORTIONS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM RESILIENT CONTACT WITH AN INSERTED CONDUCTIVE PIN. 